Santo Domingo.- Juan Marte, president of the National Transport Workers’ Union (CNTT), emphasized that public transport issues should not be solely attributed to passenger or freight drivers but must involve all vehicle operators. He pointed out that public transportation accounts for just 2.7% of the country’s 6.2 million registered motor vehicles, urging the government to consider all stakeholders in transport policies.
Marte criticized the state’s narrow focus on a handful of transportation leaders while neglecting broader systemic issues. He also challenged the claim that motorcyclists are responsible for 67% of traffic deaths, though he acknowledged their significant involvement in accident-related injuries. He attributed the high accident rates to a lack of a structured traffic management plan and an oversized vehicle fleet in a country where 70% of roads are still rural.
Echoing INTRANT director Milton Morrison’s concerns about the rising traffic-related fatalities, Marte argued that transit institutions prioritize business opportunities over real solutions. He called for a comprehensive, long-term transportation strategy rather than fragmented efforts that fail to address the root causes of accidents and inefficiencies.